Hawks sweep STAC track titles

WINDSOR – The Corning Hawks beat the weather and beat all comers at Thursday’s STAC Championships, held in Windsor.

The Corning boys team scored 104 points to top Ithaca (82) and Vestal (81), while the Hawks girls outpointed second-place Elmira, 130-76.

"This was an awesome day for our program," Corning head coach Joseph Melanson said. "To have both programs win really shows the hard work that each of our athletes put in with us all year round.

"STAC is a very tough conference with some great athletes in it. Our boys and girls teams just showed how good they can be when they really want something."

The Hawks got off on the right foot as John McCarthy and Katie Butler both won their steeplechase events. McCarthy completed the 3,000 meter version in 9:11.86, while Butler ran the 2,000 event in 7:00.46. Both were school and STAC records, while McCarthy’s time was also a Section IV best.

"John was flying. He set himself up to be ranked No. 1 in the nation right now for the steeplechase," Melanson said. "It was a very big day for Katie, too. She’s ranked No. 1 in the state in the steeple."

Corning freshman Jessica Lawson was a double winner, placing first in the 1,500 meters (4:31.86), before edging Vestal’s Emily Mackay by 0.02 seconds in the 3,000 meters with a time of 10:04.97.

In the 100 meters, Michaela Burrell (12.83) won by a hundredth of a second over teammate Emily Stiker (12.84), who was running in a different heat. Stiker then went on to win the 200 meters in 26.23. Stiker then went on to win the 200 meters in 26.23.

On the boys’ side, the Hawks also got wins from Sam Chauvin in the 3,200 (9:24.58), as well as Seth Spicer in the shot put (44-4).

"Sam had a great race. He really pushed himself through, making sure we would get our 10 points," Melanson said. "Seth has come on and really helped this team out wherever we need him."

The Express dominated the day when it came to the relays, as the girls swept all events, while the boys added a win in the 1,600 relay.

The 400 relay team of Tiffany Robinson, Jalasia Demember, Meredith Fennell and Amari Hadlock finished in 51.18, while the 1,600 relay team of Khiere Ashley, Ally Dimon, Cathi Mewes and Miah Hunkele (4:06.83) and the 3,200 relay team of Kendra Oldroyd, Olivia Riley, Ava Pellor and Imari Johnson (9:58.03) also were victorious. Amari Hadlock added a win in the long jump for Elmira (16-8.5).

The Express boys 1,600 relay team of Jerry McPeak, Brendan Collins, Ricky Houghtelling and Cabin Seymour won with a time of 3:25.61.

Other top finishes for the Hawks included second place finishes by Michelle Crook (800), Taylor Jubilee (triple jump), Ben Mertus (400), McCarthy (400 hurdles) and Nino Prestigiacomo (pole vault). Corning also took second in all of the girls relays, as well as the boys 1,600 relay.